CEP

Forensic Engineering

Message from the President In summarizing our 30 years of steady growth for this corporate brochure, I have sought to reaffirm the very essence of our Companys goal, the one my associates, partners and myself have always aimed for. We constantly pursue excellence in accomplishing our forensic engineering tasks. Our mission is to put the benefits of science and technology to use for our clients claim and litigation needs. Our clients benefit from a wide range of services offered by dedicated and focused professionals who pay, in each case, careful attention to details. With our strong team spirit, our clients can count on a valued partner to assist them in the handling of their claims and legal disputes. We believe in developing strategic alliances with like-minded excellence-driven associates in order to offer our clients the best possible solutions and chances to achieve their goals. We recognize that the consequences of natural and man-made disasters can be considerable and most damaging, not only in terms of material or financial losses, but also at the human level. We strive to offer the best possible quality of analysis our professions can offer to ensure that our clients make the right choices and decisions. I give you my personal guarantee that each and every case entrusted to us will be treated with the utmost diligence according to your needs. I invite you to experience the CEP way.

Jean-Franois Joubert, P. Eng.

President and Chief Executive Officer

CEP Forensic Engineering Inc.

Forensic Engineering :

The challenge of being both an Engineer and an Expert Witness

As the risks associated with insurance claims and legal disputes increase, the need to establish solid partnerships and to rely on competent expertise is a matter of survival and profitability for risk and insurance managers and their legal counsels. The opinion of a qualified forensic engineering professional, as to the precise origin and cause of losses and the apportionment of related liabilities, is a most valuable asset. This is the every day task of the professional engineers, technologists and fire investigators at CEP Forensic Engineering Inc. We are acutely aware of the importance of the opinions that we deliver to our clients in the handling of their claims and legal disputes. CEP has continuously refined and improved its methods of technical investigation and its resources to offer its clients professional services of the highest standards of quality. Our multidisciplinary team of professional engineers and scientists ensures that, first and foremost, the most appropriate consultant is assigned to each specific case. On the site of an accident, every detail is recorded with adequate notes, drawings and state-of-the-art visual documentation. When required, computer-based models and simulations are used to complement the validation of the considered scenarios. All these factual elements are included in an accurate, concise and simply-worded report to present and support our professional opinion in a clear and convincing way. By the time our engineers have formed their final opinion, all possible scenarios for a given loss, accident or disaster will have been reviewed, analysed, and interpreted. The pursuit of excellence in every area of our activities is, for us, a never-ending quest.

Fires and Explosions

This area of investigation was the original field of specialized expertise of the Company and it has always been at the core or our activities. Our experts have investigated and identified the causes of fires and explosions and have continually sought to refine and improve their techniques. Today, they rank among the leaders in their field. Our scientific and engineering training is the basis on which the principles, methodologies and accident/loss causation analysis are founded. Our methods and approaches are rigorous, tested, recognized in practice and highly dependable. Deflagrations (fires and explosions) are the result of complicated phenomena requiring several investigative techniques. The analysis and interpretation of the relevant parameters must be comprehensive and meticulous. All facts must be taken into consideration, even if much of the physical evidence is often destroyed. At CEP, our team of forensic engineers and certified fire investigators utilizes state-of-the-art technologies and investigative procedures and constantly keeps abreast of recent developments. We are always prepared to consider innovative options to improve our methods of investigation. The integrity and credibility of CEP consultants make them strategic allies for their clients in resolving disputes caused by fire and explosion claims.

Fire investigation, Laval, 2004

Industrial dust explosion, Lac-Mgantic, 2006

The Battle against Fraud

When fraud is suspected, CEPs experienced team is prepared to intervene in claims such as alarm systems that could have been tampered with, arsons and many others. CEPs experts use rigorous methods to establish whether there are scientific grounds to believe that fraud occurred or not. Working as a team, our engineers will confirm or overrule the various suggested scenarios to explain the events at hand. Whenever fraud is suspected, we intervene with an objective and scientific approach to establish the facts and help uncover the truth. Our clients appreciate our strategy, rigor and methodology in our search for scientific evidence. We believe that only the combined efforts of all the parties involved can result in the detection and reduction of insurance fraud. In this context, CEP is undoubtedly a partner of choice in putting together and coordinating the efforts of an anti-fraud team.
Molotov cocktail, Henryville, 2004

Electrical Engineering
Electricity is an essential component of modern life. An increasing number of accidents result from the use or misuse of this form of energy in day-to-day activities. Whether it be fires, electrocutions, disastrous power outages, computer or alarm systems failures, our vast experience in this field helps solving and explaining the phenomena that triggered such events. Because of the invisible nature of electricity, most people find it difficult to understand its behavior. Our consultants demystify the processes and provide clear explanations of what happened. Our experts have successfully investigated causes of numerous failures and accidents of this type, originating from large or small installations, from complex hydroelectric projects, power transformers, down to regular household appliances. The CEP team is constantly endeavouring to push back the frontiers of its expertise and to develop new techniques as well as novel ways to interpret electrical phenomena.
Alternator, Rivire-des-Prairies Generating Station, Laval, 1999

Transformer examination, Stafford, England, 2001

Civil Engineering
Reaching back as far as one can in history, major civil engineering projects have always characterized civilizations. Municipal infrastructures, large and small buildings, highways or large scale construction projects such as dams, have always fascinated the human mind. Civil engineering has its own unique and privileged place at CEP. Our civil engineers have been called upon to work under the most demanding circumStructural analysis of a bridge, Saguenay, 1996 stances, from the Saguenay 1996 flood to the January 1998 ice storm which struck the Montreal area. Whether it be water induced problems in building or structural collapses, our experts have handled all these situations. We combine the strength of the expertise and experience gained in the past with the fresh input of state-of-the-art technologies presently available. Our engineers are always sensitive to our clients needs and anxious to even exceed their expectations. We use up-todate analysis methods and pay all necessary attention to details. With our civil engineers, our clients are assured they will obtain clear answers and meaningful professional opinions to assist them in their dispute resolution.

Watermain failure, Hull, 1999

Mechanical Engineering
Since the invention of the wheel, man has increasingly depended upon mechanical systems in his residential and industrial environment. CEP engineers have a very broad expertise in building systems, as well as in industrial and transportation equipment. Their methodology is subject to the same rigorous and scientific approach used all over the firm. With respect to building mechanical systems, our services include heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, plumbing, fire protection and elevators/escalators. Concerning general mechanics, our services include pneumatic and hydraulic systems, machinery components, industrial equipment, heat exchangers and injuries related to such equipment. CEP engineers also provide our clients with expertise in vehicle mechanics, automotive and heavy equipment failures and fires, lubrication problems, transportation and traffic accident reconstruction.

Dismantling of a gearbox, Strasbourg, France, 1997

Mechanical engineers is a fundamental discipline for us. The assistance of CEP mechanical engineers is invaluable to identify the causes of failures and accidents. With their help, what seems at first inexplicable becomes surprisingly clear.

Examination of a chain sling used during transportation of a turbine wheel, New York, 1996

Combustion
With the increasing trend towards additional backup heating equipment in residential construction, masonry fireplaces, slowburning stoves and prefabricated fireplaces, as well as their installation, are frequently the source of major accidents. Our experts are well aware of the manufacturing methods and installation standards for these types of equipment. The failure and efficiency problems of oil and gas heating systems are also routinely investigated and are areas in which our engineers excel and enjoy an excellent reputation. Investigations into accidents caused by these sources require special know-how and meticulous on-site observations. Our experts have specialized training in this field and are skilled in giving expert testimony.

15 Mbtu/h rotary dryer, meal plant, Longueuil, 2006

Gas line, meal plant, Longueuil, 2006

Chemical Engineering and Analytical Chemistry

Chemistry deals with the worlds most basic elements. It is thus an integral part of several claims arising from the residential and industrial sectors. CEPs range of services would obviously not be complete if these fields were omitted. CEPs chemistry professionals apply their knowledge to resolving our clients problems. When claims arise from industrial processes, failure or abnormal corrosion which can endanger equipment, CEP can assist you in identifying the real causes. The proper identification of chemical compounds is a crucial need in many situations. CEP ensures that it is conducted appropriately and coordinates the chemical analysis process. Quality control problems resulting in product rejects and recalls is also a field of expertise where our chemists and chemical engineers frequently provide professional opinions. Our forensic experts leave nothing to chance in providing opinions leading to appropriate solutions.
Evaluation of the quality of a petrochemical product, Montreal East, 1995

Materials and Metallurgical Engineering

For centuries, metallurgy and materials applications have been part of our everyday life. Just thinking about steel, copper, aluminum, polymer and ceramic manufactured products remind us that we are surrounded by numerous man-made materials derived from metallurgy and material engineering sciences. As some of you may have heard, we are offering specialized services in these fields which are concerned with the properties of materials (strength, toughness, hardness, corrosion, resistance etc.), their applications, their failure modes, their design, and the manufacturing processes involved. The systematic approach of our metallurgical and materials engineering team enables the identification of evidence which provides guidelines for the characterization of the type of damage involving various materials in any accident or disaster. For example, this approach may reveal scientific information pertaining to the determination of: the origin and cause of a fire, the failure mechanism of a particular product or component, a design, materials selection or processing problem, etc.

Polymer granulator knife, Saint-Lon-de-Standon, 2006

Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray analysis and optical microscopy, together with the macroscopic examination and metallographic preparation of samples are techniques commonly used by CEPs experts in order to characterize materials and/or study the damage sustained by manufactured products. Our experts and engineers have the knowledge and experience required to provide our clients with expert opinions and concrete solutions adapted to specific case studies, in any combination of applications and environments. Our specialized engineers will find the answer you are looking for any type of problems or issues related to metallurgy and materials engineering.
Case of molten metal corrosion

CEP Service means...

State-of-the-art forensic engineering; Experience extending over more than 30 years and 30,000 cases; Serving clients across Canada and worldwide; Service sensitive to your needs and constantly changing to redefine the industrys standards of quality; The guarantee of a professional, fast and efficient service without undue delay; A powerful multidisciplinary team available under the same roof; More than 30 dependable and dedicated engineers and qualified professionals at your service; Court recognized experts witnesses with extensive testifying experience; Familiarity with insurance claims and legal processes; Five offices to better serve you; Each with an emergency phone number to reach us any time (see next page); Constant technical training to upgrade and keep our high level of knowledge; Well-documented reports suited to your needs; Modern laboratories and test facilities equipped with state-of-the-art instruments and equipment; Workshops capable of accommodating large equipment for in-depth examinations; Our documentation center contains many reference books, standards, technical articles and other documents relevant to our fields of expertise; Teaching and seminar presentations for professionals in the insurance industry; Technical bulletins to keep our customers informed.

In the Montreal area :

1980 Michelin Street Laval (Quebec) H7L 5C2 Telephone : 450 Toll free : 1 877 Fax : 450 Emergency : 1 888

686-0240 686-0240 686-1440 236-8815

In the Toronto area :

1103 Wentworth Street West, Unit 3 Oshawa (Ontario) L1J 8P7 Telephone : 905 404-0237 Toll free : 1 855 404-0237 Fax : 905 404-0230 Emergency : 1 888 212-4639

In the Ottawa area :

2212 Gladwin Crescent, Unit B7 Ottawa (Ontario) K1B 5N1 Telephone : 613 234-1668 Toll free : 1 866 521-1668 Fax : 613 234-0079 Emergency : 1 888 498-8078

In the Quebec City area :

1345 Louis-XIV Blvd. Quebec (Quebec) G2L 1M4 Telephone : 418 Toll free : 1 855 Fax : 418 Emergency : 1 866

622-4480 622-4480 622-6002 671-2532

Email : info@expcep.com Web site : www.expcep.com